•^O PL,AYS EXCHANGED. 




.MCR'5 EDITION 
or PL7\Y:5 



THE SUBSTANCE 
AMBITION 



OF 






Price, 15 Cents 




COPYRIGHT. 1889, BY WALTER H. BAKER & CO. 




Class P 5 35-^ 5 
Book. /^7^5Sf ? 



CotpghtN". 



l^oQ 



COHfRIGHT DEPOSE 



The Substance of Ambition 

A Drama in One Act 



By 
MARIE JOSEPHINE WARREN 

Author of '''-The Elopeinent of Ellen^' ^^Tommfs 
Wfe^' ''Endyfmon^' etc. 



The professional stage rights in this play are reserved by 
the author, and all persons wishing to produce it publicly 
and for profit should apply for permission to the author in 
care of the publishers. Amateurs may produce it without 
permission. 



• BOSTON 

WALTER H. BAKER & CO. 
1909 



The Substance of Ambition 



P5 354-5 ; 

./1 7^5 5^ i 



CHARACTERS 

Mr. Hudson. ' 

Faith, his daughter. 
Frank Sanders. 
Hector MacTaggart. 

Place. — Any small city in the United States. 
Time. — The present. 




Copyright, 1909, by MARIE JOSEPHINE WARREN 
As author an^pro'prietor 

All rights reserved 

©CI.D 17J6:. 



The Substance of Ambition 



SCENE. — The parlor of the boarding-house kept by Faith 
Hudson. The room is very shabl)y, but the loorn furniture 
and threadbare hafigings must once have been handsome. 
There are a feiv excellent pictures and many books. Every- 
thing is exquisitely neat. At the left upper corner of the 
stage is a mantel over which there is a mirror ; at the 
left fro fit stands a large high-backed armchair ; at the ex- 
treme right is a desk furnished with pens, ifik, paper, etc. 
There are doors l,, r. and c. 

Enter, c. d., Faith Hudson, a slim youn^ girl of perhaps 
twenty. Her face is singularly pure and iimocent and 
wears a certain look of care and responsibility that 
makes the eyes and mouth pathetic. She is dressed very 
sifjiply in black. She comes down sloivly, sorting a pack- 
age of mail, and lays all on the desk except a bulky manila 
envelope ivhich she holds irresolutely. 

Faith. Oh, dear ! I can't bear to let him see it. Poor 
father ! The first of the month is bad enough with all the bills 
— and now his play-has come back again. He was so sure that 
this last manager would take it. {Sighs heavily.) I'll put it 
away until to-morrow, (Starts toward door, l., then pauses 
and turns back.) No, it's only cruel to let him keep on hoping. 
(JVith an outburst of feeling.') Oh, why doesn't somebody 
want it ? It is good ; it is, it is I 

Enter, c. d., Frank Sanders, a middle-aged man, conspicu- 
ously dressed and wearing much cheap jewelry which he 
fingers now and again ivith an air of self-satisfaction. 

Sanders. Good-morning, Miss Faith. 

Faith. Good -morning. 

Sanders {coming close to her). Well, ain't you going to 
shake hands? I must say you're nifty ! (Ymtb. unwillingly 
gives him her hand which he holds, and pats ivith his left.) 
Pretty little hand. {Playfully, as she tries to withdraw it.) 
Oh, no, don't try to leave me. Pve something to ask you. 

3 



4 THE SUBSTANCE OF AMBITION 

Faith {ivith gentle dignity). Please let go my band. 

Sanders {does so; shrugging). Say, don't you think it's 
time we were better friends? I've been boarding here over six 
weeks now, and paid my bills regular. Say, I suppose it would 
make quite a difference to you if I left? 

Faith {falters in a low voice). You know it would. 

Sanders {cojnfortably). Well, there ain't any danger. 
{As she turfis away.) Don't go away, — I want to talk to you. 
{He turns the desk-chair around and seats Jwnself astride of 
it, leaning his folded arms on its back.) Say, will you go to 
the dry-goods clerks' ball with me, Saturday night ? 

Faith. Thank you. I cannot leave my father. 

Sanders. Oh, come now. I'll fix it all right with him. 
It's all rot for a good-looking girl like you to stay cooped up 
every night. Say you'll go. 

Faith. Thank you. I — I think I would rather not. 

Sanders {a bit roughly). Say, is it always going to be like 
this? Say, is it? 

Faith {distressed). Yes. No. I don't know what you 
mean. 

Sanders {rising and flinging the chair out of his way). 
Oh, come off! You know well enough I've been trying to 
keep company with you ever since I came here. 

Faith {shrinking). Oh, please don't. 

Sanders {approaching her). What's the matter with you? 
Say, I wouldn't take such a turn-down from most girls, but I'm 
fond of you. Say, I'd just as soon marry you as not. 

Faith. Oh, no, no ! 

{She has backed away from him until she is stopped by the 
armchair. She shrinks back against it, clasping the large 
envelope, which she still holds, agaifist her breast as if 
for protection . ) 

Sanders. Stop acting up. I'm not going to eat you. 
{Playfully.) Though I don't say I wouldn't like a bite. But 
look-a-here. What'll you do when the old man drops off? 
You can't go on taking boarders then. You're too young. 

Faith {breathlessly). I know. I shall do — something. 
Oh, please go ! 

Sanders {a7igrily). Say, what's the matter wnth you? 
Anybody'd think I wasn't white ! 

Faith. I appreciate your kindness, but I do not — wish to 
marry. Please, please go ! 



THE SUBSTANCE OF AMBITION 5 

Sanders {looking at her atriously). Say, you're a queer 
bird. 'Most any girl would jump at the chance. But I don't 
bear malice. You think it over and you'll come 'round O. K. 
Sure you won't go to the bail? 

Faith. No. Thank you. 

Sanders {going toward door, c). Well, ta-ta ! I don't 
bear malice, you know. \Exit. 

(Faith ivatches him out and stands staring at the doorivayy 
all her horror and repidsion growing in her face. Then 
she turns and buries her face against the high back of 
the chair. In a moment she raises her head resolutely , 
brushes the back of her hand across her eyes, and starts 
toward the desk, just as Mr. Hudson enters door, r. 
He is a man of sixty-five with irofi-gray hair and a 
scholarly, emaciated face. He has the indefinable air of 
breeding in spite of his very threadbare apparel. He 
seems very frail, but carries himself with a cheerful^ 
almost boyish air. ) 

Hudson. Faith ? Oh, there you are, little sunbeam ! Has 
the mail come yet? 

Faith {gently). Yes, father. 

Hudson {going to the desk and picking up the e^welopes, one 
after another, scrutinizing them through his spectacles and 
tossing them aside). Bills ! Bills ! It can't be the first of 
the month already ! 

Faith. To-day is the first of April, father. 

Hudson. So it is, so it is ! {Turns from the desk.) Well, 
never mind the bills, little sunbeam. When the play is ac- 
cepted we'll pay them all, eh? By the way, it is time I heard 
from that Western manager. We shall succeed this time, this 
time surely — eh, daughter? 

Faith {very gently). Father, the play has come back. It 
is here, dear. 

{She gives him the envelope. ) 

Hudson. Eh ? What ? {His face changes, seeming sud- 
denly infinitely old and care-2vorn. His shoulders droop, ajtd 
he seems quite feeble. He takes the package from Faith and 
looks at it blafikly.) What did you say, daughter ? The play 
has come back — come back — come 



6 THE SUBSTANCE OF AMBITION 

{His voice trails off, a?id he stands tur?iing tlie envelope over 
and over in his hands.') 

Faith. Come and sit down, dear. {She leads him to the 
armchair where he sinks down heavily, still staring at the 
package. She kneels beside him, laying her cheek against his 
sleeve.) Please don't mind, father. Please, dear ! 

Hudson {dully). Failure. Always failure. My life-work 
— failure. 

Faith. Don't talk so, dear. It's just because they aren't 
wise enough to understand how splendid it is. We know — 
you, because you've read all those wise old Greek books, and I, 
because you've always taught me, and mother knew ! {Lays 
her hand gently on the envelope.) Let me take it, dear, and 
by and by we'll read it over together again, won't we ? 

Hudson. Yes, take it away, child ; take it away. {He 
gives her the envelope and leans forward, elbows on knees, 
shading his eyes zvith his hands. Faith rises and moves off a 
step or so, her face alight with protective tenderness. She 
hesitates a moment, then tears open the envelope and takes out 
the inafiuscript. A typewritten slip flutters to the floor but 
she does not see it. Hudson raises his head protesti?igly at 
the sound of teariiig paper, and looks at Faith as she stands 
with head bent over the ma?iuscript.) You are very like your 
mother, Faith — very like. 

Faith {goifig to him swiftly afid agaifi kneeling beside hifn). 
Vm so glad, father ! I want to be like my mother. 

Hudson (stroking her hair). Very like — very like. The 
same soft hair. 

Faith. And she was just my age when you first knew her. 

Hudson. Just your age. 

Faith. And you used to talk to her about the play. 

Hudson. About the play. 

Faith. And read her bits as you wrote — and she loved 
them. 

Hudson {taking the manuscript from her, turning the 
leaves). I had just begun to work on it then. I did not think 
that my best years of study and work would count for nothing. 

Faith. Oh, but they don't. Nothing fails that makes 
somebody happy, and the play did make her happy — and you 
and me. 

Hudson {tenderly). My little sunbeam. {He falls to turn- 
ing the leaves over and over, Faith watching him with almost 



THE SUBSTANCE OF AMBITION J 

maternal tenderness.') Ah, here's your favorite scene, little 
daughter, Helen' s plea for her children. 

Faith. Oh, no, father ! Dions defense is best ! Let's 
act it, the way we used to ! Come, I'll be Actus. (S/ie rises 
and stands off, folding her artns, and recites slowly and se- 
riously.') 

*' Stand forth, Dion, stand forth ! 
Deny the accusation an' thou canst ! " 

Hudson {rising also ; kindles as he recites). 

'' Willingly, oh, great Actus, will I speak. 
A man of peasant birth, with humble tongue, 
Unused to sue for justice in your courts. 
Yet pray I grace that you will listen to me." 

Faith. Splendid, father ! Go on ! No one else could do 
it half so well. 

(^As Hudson continues the speech, enter at c. d., Sanders, 
and -with him MacTaggart, an insignificant-looking yoimg 
man tvith pale hair and moustache. The two stand lost 
in a?nazeme?it at first, then Sanders laughs and taps his 
forehead and MacTaggart nods.) 

Hudson (j-eciting). 

*' Me, you accuse of having slain a man ; 
These hands, you say, are stained with spilled blood — 
These hands, that happy would have toiled for him 
A thousand lives of lifelong days and nights 
Rather than that one hair should come to harm." 

Sanders (coming down). Front seats in the dress circle for 
us. Eh, Mac? 

MacFaggart {following him dotvn). You can bet your 
bottom dollar on that. 

(Hudson starts and looks at the men ivithout recognition. 
Faith lays her hand on his shoulder, pushing him gently 
ifito his chair. After the first few words of the following 
conversatioft he turns to the 77ianuscript and becomes ab- 
sorbed in it.) 



8 THE SUBSTANCE OF AMBITION 

Faith {to her father). Business, dear. I'll attend to it. 
(Zi? Sanders.) You wish to speak to me? 

Sanders {aside to her ; meaningly). I always want to speak 
to you. You see I don't bear malice. {Aloud, including Mac- 
Taggart.) Mac has come on business. 

MacTaggart {zvith elaborate wifiks at Sanders, who has 
seated himself, r., hands in his pockets, legs crossed). Yes, 
I've come on business. I've come to pay my board bill. First 
of the month. See? Ain't I prompt? 

( Giggles and gives envelope to Faith. ) 

Faith {going toward the desk). I will write you a receipt, 
Mr. MacTaggart. Kindly wait a moment. 

MacTaggart {winking at Sanders). You'd better open 
it and see if the amount's right. I ain't quite sure. (Faith 
opens the envelope and takes out a large sheet of thin paper 
folded several ti7nes. She uifolds it, puzzled, and finds writ- 
ten across it in large, black letters : * ' April Fool / ' ' Sanders 
and MacTaggart laugh noisily.) April fool ! April fool ! 
{Crows delightedly as Faith quietly refolds the paper and drops 
it into the waste paper basket by the desk ; thefi says to Sanders 
with affected terror.) There now — she's huffy ! You hadn't 
ought to put me up to that. She'll put salt in the sugar bowl to 
pay us — see if she don't ! 

Sanders {to Faith). Oh, come offi What's the matter 
with you ? Don't you know a joke when you see one? 

Faith {smiling faintly). I think I do. {With grave polite- 
ness.) If I can do nothing for you, you'll pardon me if I leave 
you ? I have my marketing to do. (MacTaggart stops laugh- 
ing, somewhat abashed. Faith crosses to her father.) Will 
you come with me, father ? 

Sanders (rising). Let the old duffer alone. I'm coming 
with you. 

Faith (paying no heed, lays her hand on her father' s shoul- 
der to attract his attention). Will you go with me to market, 
father ? 

Hudson {starting; looks tip). ^E^h? What? Come with 
you? To be sure, to be sure. {He rises a bit feebly and puts 
his hand ofi Faith's artn. She leads him to the door, R. He 
puts the manuscript on the desk as he passes. At the door he 
stops and holds aside the curtain for Faith, then says to the 
men with old-fashioned courtesy.) Good-morning, gentlemen. 

\_Exit. 



THE SUBSTANCE OF AMBITION 9 

MacTaggart (abashed y twiddling his hat). Good-morn- 
ing — sir. 

Sanders {tiirnijighis back, angrily). My, ain't we haughty ! 
I'd like to phiy a joke on her that she'd have to take notice of! 

MacTaggart \giggling). Might put crepe on the door. 

Sanders. Rats ! She wouldn't notice that any more than 
she did your other fool plan. 

{He strides across the floor and by chance kicks the slip of 
paper which dropped when the envelope containing the man- 
uscript ivas opened. He picks it up and looks at it 
curiously.) 
MacTaggart. Well — lemme see. How'd an auction flag 
do? 

Sanders {jiot heeding him, slaps his knee with delight). 
Oh, dry up and listen to this ! It's the best yet. (Reads.) 
<< We regret that your play is unsuited to our present needs. 

Thanking you for the privilege of reading it " What do 

you think of that ? 

MacTaggart. What's it mean ? 

Sanders. It means the old duffer's been writing a play and 
that it got turned down. Well, if that ain't the best ! 

{Laughs silently.) 

MacTaggart {giggUng). Old Hudson? Well, I'll be 
blowed ! 

Sanders [crossing to desk and picking up manuscript ) . This 
wad he was mooning over must be it. Say, look at this ! 
(MacTaggart crosses arid looks over his shoulder as he turns 
pages. Sanders says suddenly.) I've got it ! 

MacTaggart. What ? 

Sanders. Make 'em think it's been accepted by a bang-up 
company. Write a letter. 

MacTaggart {looking at him a moment, then a sloiv smile 
of admiration dawning on his face). Say, you're a wonder ! 
(Suggestively .) Weber ' s ? 

Sanders. Not on your life. It's a tragedy. Look at this. 
{Points out place on pag^ he has been reading.) Charles Froh- 
man is the fellow we want. 

MacTaggart. All right. Charley'll do. 

Sanders [sitting at desk, slamming the ma?iuscript down 
beside him, and he lpi7ig himself to paper which he shows to Mac- 
Taggart, grinning). On his own paper ! 



10 THE SUBSTANCE OF AMBITION 

MacTaggart. Make it good and strong. He'll swallow 
anything. 

Sanders. lYust me ! (^He writes, MacTaggart looking 
over his shoulder approvingly. Finally he holds tip the sheet. ^ 
How's that? 

Mac Taggart. Great ! 

Sanders {directing tlie envelope). J. P. Hudson — it is J. 
P., isn't it? 

MacTaggart. Yes. How are you going to send it? 

Sanders. Messenger boy, of course. Come on, lee's get 
one. {Seals e five lope ; rises.) 

MacTaggart. A hurry-up message. Important. 

Sanders. You bet ! 

{They go out l., laughifig. Enter, after a moment, Hud- 
son. He carries his hat.) 

Hudson. Faith, are you ready? Not here? {Calls.) 
Faith ! Faith ! 

Enter Faith, c. d. She wears a hat and gloves and carries 
her purse. 

Faith. Here, dear. Pve been down in the kitchen talking 
to Huldah to find out what we need. And I think, if you 
don't mind, that you'd better not go with me after all, dear. 
She is so busy, I hate to make her stop to answer the door-bell. 
We should have another maid. 

Hudson. Just as you wish, dear. 

Faith. And then, one of us ought to be here in case some 
one should come to look at those vacant rooms. There are 
three, now, you know. 

Hudson. I wish they were all vacant. The young men 
who were here this morning were very objectionable in appear- 
ance and manner. Why keep them here? 

Faith [gently). AVe need the money, dear. {Kisses hijn.) 
I'll hurry back as soon as I can. Good-bye, father. 

Hudson. Good-bye, little daughter. (Faith goes out l., 
turning at the door to throiu a kiss. Hudson waves cheerily 
to her, then turns toward the desk.) We need the money. 
Yes, yes. I suppose Faith is right. When the play is pre- 
sented this unfortunate lack of funds will be quite done away 
with. I must revise it and send it away again. {Sits at the 
desk and takes up the play, turni?ig pages.) No, I cannot re- 



THE SUBSTANCE OF AMBITION II 

vise it. It represents a lifetime of work. I can do no better — 
no better. {Shades his eyes with his hand and sits motionless. 
A bell rings off. lie raises his head wearily.) Tlie bell. 
Faith asked me to answer the bell. (Rises feebly and goes 
off, L. After a fnoment he returns with a letter in his hand.) 
A letter by messenger for me ! How very strange ! (He 
fumbles with the envelope, feels ifi his pocket for his glasses, 
and holds off the sheet, try i fig to read without them. Finally 
finds them and puts thetn on tremulously.') For J. P. Hudson, 
the boy said. Yes, it is certainly mine. [Reads with grow- 
ing excitement.) ''J. P. Hudson, Esquire. — Dear Sir: — Mr. 
Frohman is in town and wishes to see you at once to arrange 
for the production of your play, by an all-star company, in- 
cluding Mrs. Leslie Carter, Maude Adams, Hattie Williams, 
Sothern, and Faversham." What? What? {Takes off his 
glasses and polishes thejfi tremulously, then rereads, his face 
expressing first doubt and wonder, then lighting with joy.) 
"Wishes to see you at once to arrange for the production of 
your play." Mr. Frohman — production — Faith must read it. 
Faith ! Faith ! {Goes toward the door, calling, the?i returns.) 
I remember — she is marketing. My little girl ! My brave, 
patient little girl ! (Seats himself in the armchair, takes off 
his glasses, and polishes them violently.) How happy she will 

be ! If only her mother (He pauses for a inomentf 

staring straight before him, wistfully, then he smiles and nods 
his head.) Aye, she knows — she knows ! (He again refers 

to the letter.) "Wishes to see you at once " At once ! 

I must go at once ! Perhaps I would better not wait until 
Faith returns. (He rises and moves toward the desk ; then 
stops irresolutely.) But I want to see her face light up. 
How it will light up ! (Straightening up, he speaks as if ad- 
dressing some 07ie.) Faith, Mr. Frohman has bought the play. 
It is to be produced at once by a company of the most cele- 
brated artists in the country. (He sinks doivn on the desk- 
chair, chuckling and rubbing his hands.) My little girl ! — 
No, I might tell her casually. I might say, "Faith, I'm go- 
ing out for a short time. I must discuss the staging of the 
play with Mr. Frohman." Yes, yes, that would be better. 
How puzzled she will be. She will not believe me at first, — 
and then I'll let her look at the letter. She will want to keep 
the letter in her treasure-box with her mother's silk shawl — her 
mother's silk shawl. (He looks over the letter again.) Charles 
Frohman in town. I wonder where he would be ? He must 



tl THE SUBSTANCE OF AMBITION 

Stop at the Metropolitan. They can tell me at the box-office. 
Yes, yes. I'll go to the box-office first, so as not to lose time. 
(^Rises.) 1 ought not to wait for Faith. He says "at once," 
and the letter came by messenger. I ought not to wait. {He 
walks about irresolutely, stopping before the mirror over the 
mantel up l.) Eh, Mr. Frohman will find me looking shabby. 
I can't go like this — not like this. {He goes out r. and comes 
back immediately with another shabby coat over his arm. This 
he holds up and inspects critically.) I had not noticed how 
shabby my coats have become. But this is better, yes, this is 
better. {He laboriously removes the coat he is wearing^ hangs 
it over the back of a chair, and puts on the other coat ; then 
goes to the fnirror and carefully regards himself, pulli/ig at the 
collar, etc.) I must get a new suit at once, — several new suits. 
And Faith must have some new frocks, — some pretty, gay, 
new frocks. She's too sober. My little girl ! How happy 
she will be ! I must leave a note for her. {Crosses to desk 
and sits down. Brushes his coat- cuff with his hand, then ex- 
amines it, shaking his head.) Very worn — very shabby. Ah, 
here ! {Dips his pen in the ink and inks the worfi spots on 
the cuff, then holds it off to inspect it.) That's better — not so 
noticeable. Now for the note to Faith. {He pulls out a sheet 
of paper and poises his pen.) I'll put her off. I'll say that I 
have gone on business and explain when I get home. Then I 
can watch her face. 

[{ Writes busily, nodding and smiling to Jiimself.) 

Enter Faith, c. d. She carries a brown paper parcel which 
she lays on a chair near the door. She takes off her hat 
wearily and comes down, taking off her gloves, whe?i she 
sees her father. 

Faith. Why, father dear, I didn't see you. 

'iii\jT>?,o-i^ {star ti?ig and turnijig joyfully). Faith! My little 
girl ! {He rises and stands holding to the back of his chair. 
He is shaking 7vith excitement ajid repeats over and over.) 
My little girl ! My little girl ! 

Faith {advancijig, troubled by his unusual ifiafiner). What 
is it, dear ? What is the matter ? 

Hudson {controlling himself with an effort). Good news ! 

Faith {eagerly). Oh, did some one come to look at the 
vacant rooms ? 

Hudson {i?npatiently). No, no ! Better than that ! 



THE SUBSTANCE OF AMBITION 1 3 

Faith. Some one has really taken them, then ? Oh, father ! 
How splendid ! All of them ? 

Hudson. No, no, Faith ! It is nothing about the rooms. 
The play, child — the play ! 

Faith {clasping her hands, half frightened). The play, 
father ! What do you mean ? Tell me quickly ! 

Hudson. The play is — the play is 

(^Jle steps, his face working convulsively, and holds out the 
letter to her.) 

Faith (taking the letter and glancing quickly through ity 
theft looking up startled). But, father, this — this — I do not 
understand. When did this come ? 

Hudson. A boy brought it. And I must go at once. You 
see he says '' at once," and the letter came by messenger. 

Faith {tuho has been staring at the letter with groiving dis- 
tress, now puts out her hand to stay him). No, no, dear ! 
Don't go ! (^Turning away, to herself, passionately.) Oh, 
how could they ! Cruel ! Cruel ! 

Hudson. What's that, daughter? Not go? Why, of 
course I must go. What is the matter ? {Puzzled and dis- 
tressed.) I thought — I thought you would be so happy. Faith ! 

Faith {turning toward him pitifully, claspi?ig and unclasp- 
ing her hands). Oh, don't you see, dear? Mr. Frohman 
wouldn't send that kind of letter — with no signature — no ad- 
dress — no date Oh, don't you see, dear? He wouldn't 

write in that way ! 

Hudson {looking at the letter, dazed). No signature — 
why, no. But — {helplessly) what do you mean. Faith ? I 
don't understand. Doesn't he want the play ? He must want 
it, or why 

Faith {very gently). He did not send this, dear. To-day 
is the first of April — don't you remember ? Some one has 
done it for a joke, — ^just to tease you, dear. 

Hudson {staring at the letter). A joke — ^just to tease me 
— a joke 

{Suddeftly hirsts i?ito loud laughter.) 

Faith. Father ! Father, don't ! 

Hudson {his laughter dies away, and he sways slightly). 
A joke. Of course I should have known. {He puts out his 
hand gropingly.) Faith ! Where are you, child? 



14 THE SUBSTANCE OF AMBITION 

(Faith takes his hand and leads him toward the armchair. 
He leans iipoji her heavily^ and sinks feebly into the chair. 
Faith kneels beside him, still keeping his hand ift hers. 
He stares before hifn unseeingly.') 

Faith (caressingly). Don't bother about it, dear ! Please 
don't ! Never mind about the play — or anybody or anything. 
We are so happy together ! 

Hudson {turning slo7vly and looking at her ; gradually a 
look of recognition comes into his dazed face, and when he 
speaks his voice is young and clear). Of course. So happy 
together. Faith is growing to be like you, dear, — very like. 
The same soft hair. {He touches Faith's hair gently.) Very 
like! 

{His hand slips down ; his head sinks against the back of 
the chair ; his eyes close.) 

Faith. Father ! {As he does not answer, she says again , 
with grozving terror.) Father ! Father / 

{For a mo7nent she gazes fearfully into his quiet face, then 
bows her head, hiding her face on the arm of his chair as) 



THE CURTAIN FALLS 



New Plays 



HIGBEE OF HARVARD 

A COMEDY-DRAMA IN THREE ACTS 

By Charles Townsend 

Five males, four females. Modern costumes ; scenes, two interiors and 
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CHARACTERS 

"Watson W. Higbee, from Montana. Higgins, the butler. 

A good fellow with millions, who Eccentric Character. 

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Character Lead. daughter. An up-to-date, level-headed 

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ex-senator ivith a tall family tree and Madge CUMMlNGS,//-o?>i Montana, A 

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SYNOPSIS 

ACT I.— The lawn at "Withrow's. A Jime afternoon. Planning a dou- 
blemarriage. 

ACT II.— Parlor at Withrow's. In a tangle. Cupid's arrows go wrong, 
and everything follows. Good-by, and a roaring climax. 

ACT III.— In Montana, five months later. Hard lines. " Thanksgiving 
to-morrow, and no chance to steal a turkey." The unexpected happens. 
Sudden wealth. " A Four-decker wedcUn' in a couple or three days." 



THE OTHER WOMAN 

A SKETCH IN ONE ACT 



By Ellis Kingsley 



Two females. Scene, an interior ; costumes modern. A clever and r©i 
fined sketch, strongly recommended. Very dramatic. Plays twenty min. 
utes. 

Price. 15 cents 



New Plays for Female Characters 
THE VISIT OF OBADIAH 

A FARCE IN TWO ACTS 

• By Eunice Fuller and Margaret C. Lyon 

Thirteen females. Costumes modern; scene, an easy interior, tlie same 
for botli acts. Plays an hour. A clever and original play, suited for school 
or college performance. Full of incident and oif ers a great variety of char- 
acter and great opportvmity for pretty dressing. Irish and negro comedy 
parts. 

Price J 25 ce?its 

CHARACTERS 

Mrs. Mehitable Coffin, wfio has Maria Amanda Van Allstyne- 

buried her husband and her brother. Smythe, named by her father. 

Mrs. Hiram Van Allstyne- Elinor Carmicha'el, Cecile's " chic 

Smythh, her sis fer-in-laiv. school friend." ^ 

Cecile Montgomery Van"! Mrs. Peter Van Bibber. 

ALLSTYNE-SMYTHE, WILHELMINA STUYVE.SANT VAN 

Clarice Du Mont Van | „ Bibber. 

Allstyne-Smythe, I t '^Jl^. Katrina Kortlandt Van 



Celeste Rockerbilt Van 
Allstyne-Smythe, 

CORALIE VANDERBECK 

VAN Allstyne-Smythe, ^ 



>by their 
mother. 



Bibber. 
Bridget. 
Dinah. 
Obadiah, Aunt Mehitable's bird. 



A PAN OF FUDGE 

A COMEDY IN ONE ACT 

By Maude B. Simes 

Six females. Costumes modern; scene, an easy interior. Plays twenty- 
five minutes. A bright little boarding school sketch, at once amusing and 
sympathetic ; tone high and quality good. Confidently recommended to 
young ladies as an effective piece easy to get up. 

Price, 15 cents 

MAID TO ORDER 

A FARCE IN ONE ACT 

By Helen Sherman Griffith 

Six females. Costumes modern; scene, an easy interior or none at all. 
Plays half an hour. A bright and vivacious little play of boarding school 
life, suited for young people and sure to please them. Clean, refined and 
confidently recommended to the best taste. 

Price, 15 cents 



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